How to change the oil in automatic transmission A6MF1 KIA and Hyundai

The Korean automatic transmission A6MF1 is used on a dozen models. Among them are Hyundai Sonata, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, fresh Kia Soul and Carnival, Sorento. Good machine, but requires respect. When you need to change the oil in an automatic transmission? How to change the ATF in the gearbox, which oil is better to pour, what is there with the automatic transmission filter, we are figuring it out right now.

When to change the oil and filter in an automatic transmission Hyundai Sonata, Tucson

Crossover Hyundai Tucson third generation is equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission A6MF1. The manufacturer gives a very bold assessment of the capabilities of the AT and recommends once again not to pour anything into it.

KIA recommends changing the automatic transmission filter at 300,000 mileage or during a major overhaul. Experienced owners of Kia Sportage 3 still change more often, although the price of the box filter is not the most ridiculous.

The filter is changed only during the disassembly of the gearbox, without the urgent need to do this.

The operating fluid replacement schedule recommended by the manufacturer is 50-60 thousand km when working in difficult operating conditions and 90,000 km when working in normal conditions. It is logical if we equate our conditions with “conditionally severe” and here’s why:

1. The car works in urban conditions, traffic jams and high temperatures, low revs, frequent switching.
2. The car regularly tows a heavy trailer.
3. Bad roads average over 30% of the mileage.

Which oil is better for a Hyundai Tucson AT

For a complete replacement, 7.2-7.4 liters of transmission oil will be required, depending on the modification of the automatic transmission, which has a viscosity of SAE 80W and API SP – IV approval. It is not recommended to fill in liquids of other viscosity and with other tolerance levels, as this can lead to excessive wear of the fluid coupling impeller and gears.

Representatives of the manufacturer claim that Mobis ATF SP – IV is poured on the conveyor in the Kia Sportage automatic transmission. Many car owners do not agree with this. In their opinion, ATF ZIC SP-4 gear oil is filled in the gearbox. This liquid is considered the most common analogue – the quality is similar to the original, and the price is lower.

With a complete replacement of the working fluid in the automatic transmission, the difference in cost between ATF Mobis and ZIC is small, so it is better to listen to the manufacturer’s recommendations and use the original gear oil.

If you want to save money, look for other analogues, like these:

• Michang ATF SP-4; 
• SK ATF Sp-4;
• Noca ATF SP-4.

[stextbox id=’shesterna1′]In more detail, we considered the issue of gear oils for automatic transmissions, their properties and tolerances, applicability and interchangeability here.[/stextbox]

How to change the oil in an automatic transmission Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage 

 

To change the oil in the Kia Sportage automatic transmission, you can contact the specialists at the service station or do the replacement yourself. You can change in two ways:

• Partial replacement. You can easily do it in the garage with your own hands. It is believed that a partial oil change in a Kia / Hyundai machine is more effective than a complete one.
• Complete replacement. This option is possible if there is access to a vacuum apparatus and we talked about it in sufficient detail.

To replace ATF yourself, you do not need special skills or special tools.

We take into account that during our oil change in the A6MF1 automatic transmission on the Hyundai Sonata, about 55-65% of the liquid is drained.

The set of tools required in this case consists of a set of wrenches, a jack or a hydraulic lift, as well as containers for draining used oil.

Before starting work, it is necessary to release the breather and oil lines leading to the gearbox. To do this, you need to remove the air filter housing, which is located under the hood, just behind the driver’s headlight.

The procedure in this case is as follows:

• disconnect the pipes leading from the filter housing to the engine block;
• remove the pipe leading to the throttle;
• remove the air filter housing.

In the future, it will be necessary to disconnect the oil lines leading from the automatic transmission to the cooling radiator. The supply pipe adjoins the lower part of the radiator, painted red. The return pipe, painted yellow, is connected to its upper part.

After removing the air filter, it is necessary to raise the car using a jack or hydraulic lift and perform the following steps:

1. Remove the metal crankcase protection by unscrewing 4 bolts.
2. Dismantle the plastic protection of the engine elements by removing 8 fixing clips.
   
3. Unscrew the automatic transmission drain plug. 
   

After removing the drain plug, not all the working fluid flows out of the automatic transmission, but about 4 liters. Then you need to remove the oil level control cover. It is located on a plastic casing, at the end of the gearbox.

After that, it is necessary to pull out and inspect the rubber bushing from the hole to control the oil level. If it shows signs of delamination or cracking, then it must be replaced.

How to fill automatic transmission oil in Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage

Before starting to fill the automatic transmission with oil, wash and clean the magnetic tip of the drain plug from metal particles, screw it into place and lower the car. After that, you can start filling the oil. To do this, you must perform the following procedure:

1. Disconnect the oil return line from the cooling radiator and lead it into a drain container.
   
2. Unscrew the breather plug.
   
3. Place a filler funnel in the breather hole and pour in 1 liter of ATF.
   
4. Run the engine for about 10 seconds and see to it that the used oil container is full. After filling it with 1 liter, the motor must be turned off. Repeat the procedure several times until clear liquid appears in the container.
   
5. Connect the hose to the cooling radiator.

After completing the above steps, start the engine in order to warm up the oil in the gearbox. The optimum working fluid temperature for testing is approximately 50 – 60 °C.

For control, it is enough to try the oil lines, which should be hot, but not burn the hand. After reaching the required temperature, without turning off the engine, raise the car and unscrew the oil level control plug. At the beginning, excess working fluid is drained from the hole.

When the optimum level is reached, it will begin to flow out in a thin stream. This level is quite enough for the smooth operation of all elements of the gearbox.

After reaching a sufficient level of oil in the box, tighten the control plug, install the plastic and metal protection of the engine elements and the air filter.

Let’s sum up the results. We change the oil ourselves, or at the service station

A complete oil change in an automatic transmission A6MF1 KIA / Hyundai does not require much effort, as well as the use of special tools and fixtures. If you have enough time and desire, all work can be done independently.

An oil change in a KIA / Hyundai A6MF1 AT will cost 60-80 dollars, which we can save and buy better quality oil. On the other hand, a vacuum complete replacement guarantees an almost complete replacement of the liquid, but at the same time, not 7.3, but about 14 liters of oil will go away.